Attaching clapper-springs to bells



(No Model.) E. W. VANDUZBN.

Attaching Clapper $prings to Bells.

No. 229,565. Patented July 6, 1880.

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UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA W. VANDUZEN, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY.

ATTACHING CLAPPER-SPRINGS TO BELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,565, dated July 6, 1880. Application filed April 12, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EZRA W. VANDUZEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newport, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attaching Clapper- Springs to Bells, (Case B and I'do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description of the same, sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, where- 1n Figure l is a vertical section of a bell, showing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the line m 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the line y y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference in the drawings indicate the same parts.

My present invention is an improvement in the means for attaching the clapper-springs to bells shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 59,099, heretofore granted to me, dated October 23, 1866. These springs are usually attached to bells weighing one hundred pounds and over, and their functions are to soften the blows of the clapper for the purpose of preventing it from rattling against the bell, and to recoil the clapper after striking the bell to prevent it from interfering with the vibrations of the bell when swinging.

In my former patent the bell is shown with a circular opening in its top, and clamped between the yoke-plate above and the crown= plate within the bell by means of a single bolt, the two clamping-plates bearing upon the bell around the top opening. The clapper-springs are letinto the crown-plate upon opposite sides of the clapper, and there held by adjustingscrews.

My improvement consists in so applying these springs that the bolt of the clampingplates shall also serve to hold the springs in place, and thereby dispense with the set-screws, which frequently work loose and allow the springs to drop out of the bell.

It also consists in the construction of the crown-plate and springs by which the result is effected.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the bell, cast with a circular opening in its top; B, the yoke, cast with a flanged collar, O, to fit upon the bell around the top opening; and D, the crown-plate within the bell, cast with a boss, E, projecting into the top opening, and an angular tenon, F, rising from the boss and entering a corresponding opening, G, in the yoke. The crown plate and yoke are clamped together upon the bell by a single axial bolt, H, inserted from within the bell, so that its head shall bear against the under side of the crown-plate and its upper end receive the nuts I I, bearing upon the top of the yoke. Thus only one bolt is used to lock the yoke and crown-plate together, while the tenon F steadies them and prevents their lateral displacement.

These features are all included in my former patent above referred to, and are therefore not included in the present invention, excepting so far as they may be necessary to the combination therewith. As shown in said patent, the crown-plate has a large boss on its under side, recessed centrally to receive the head ofthe clamping-bolt above the clapper-pivot, and also provided with two vertical recesses upon opposite sides of the clapper, to receive the ends of the clapper-springs, which are held in place by set-screws inserted through the side of the boss to bear against the sides of the springs.

In applying my improvement, instead of casting the crown-plate with this large boss, I omit it entirely and pivot the clapper I between two ears, J J, projecting from its under side; and instead of securing the clappersprings by set-screws within recesses of the boss, I cast the edge of the bolt-hole in the crown-plate with shoulders K K between the ears and bend up the ends of the clappersprings, as shown at L L, to fit against or in the recess formed by said shoulders. When the axial bolt is applied to the yoke and plate its head bears against the two springs and locks them securely in place, while at the same timeit clamps the yoke and plate together upon the bell. The springs extend outward in opposite directions from between the ears of the crown-plate, and are thereby prevented from turning or being moved laterally out of place.

By this method of applying the springs I save the metal required for the boss, besides lightening the bell, and not only look the clap per-springs securely to the crown-plate. but also save the expense and labor incident to their former method of attachment.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The crown-plate of the bell, cast with shoulders K K upon opposite sides of the central bolt-hole, between the ears of the clapperpivot, to receive the bent ends of the clappersprings, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

2. The clapper-springs applied to the crownplate of the bell between the ears of the clapper-pivot, and having their ends bent upward to bear against orenterthe recesses formed by the shoulders K K upon opposite sides of the central bolt-hole, in combination with the clampingbolt, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of March, A. l). 1880.

EZRA W. VANDUZEN.

Witnesses:

N. K. ELLSWORTH, E. A. ELLsWoBTH. 

